Frame for gathering machines



June 26, 1923.

H. HENDERSON FRAME F OR GATHERING MACHINES- 'Filed Nov. 15 1918lq459.73l

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nven to?" Hen ry Hen r5022 June 26, 1923. 1,459,731

H. HENDERSQN FRAME FOR GATHERING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15 1918 2Sheets-Sheet 2 [72 venior Henderson F Henr Patented June 26, 1923.

uNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFECE.

HENRY nnnnnnson, or HALSTAD, 'ivrrnnnso'ra.

- FRAME ron GATHERING MACHINES;

. Application filed November 15, 1918. Serial No. 262,671.

the forward portion offthe frame of the gatheringmachine so as to permitrelative, vertical motion of the forward supporting wheels and theframe, thereby permitting the machine to properly adjust itself to theuneven surfaces of the ground over which it may be moving.I Y

A further object is to provide a construction in which the lower rollofthe pick-up belt of the elevatorxwill be directly under and parallelwith the axis of the wheels so that the lowerend of the belt or apronframe will at all times havethe same relative position with respect tothe ground'line as will the wheels, thus obviating the disadvantage ofthe lower end of the frame striking against and digging into the groundas is frequently the case where the lower end of the frame is positionedin front of the wheel axle and the wheels drop into a. depression of thegroundback of the lower end of the frame. i 1 p The. invention consistsgenerally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of' this specification,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gathering machine embodying myinvention,

Figure 2 is a side view of the forward portion of the machine, I.

Figure 3 is asectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in thedirection of the. arrows on Figure 2 at the ends of the-line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the mechanism for raising andlowering theapron frame.

In the drawing, 2 representsthe frame of the machine. 3 are the forwardsupporting and guidewheels. 4c are upright sleeves having axles 5whereon the wheels are mounted.

A yoke 6 has its ends mounted in the sleeves 4 and is substantially inthe form of an inverted U and bridges the frame 2 extending from side toside of the machine. A brace 6 preferably extends from the upperhorizontal portion of the yoke 6 to the forward cross member ofthemachine frame. (See Figure 2.) Brackets 7 are mounted on the upperportions of this yoke and are provided with sheaves 8 for supporting acable 9 which has its ends attached to the frame 2. i

The ends of the cable are securedin any suitable manner to the frame 2at a point substantially opposite the lower ends of the yoke 6. Theposition of the lower ends of the cable is well:illu'strated in Figure 1of the drawings. I have not thought it necessary to illustrate thedetailed means for connecting the ends of the cable to the frame 2, butany suitable means for this purpose may be employed. The runningconnection of the cable 9,which supports the forward end of the machineframe, over the sheaves 8, permits a relative tilting or oscillation ofthe machine frame and yoke, and forward wheels 3,,by which said yoke iscarried, so

as to permit the machine to adjust itself to any uneven groundover whichit may be moved. The brackets 7 have links 10pivotally connectedtherewith and rods 11 have threaded engagement. at their upper ends withsaid links for adjustment thereonand are mounted at their lower ends onthe axles 5 by a coupling 11*, forming a brace and support for the axlesto hold them and the wheels in proper alignment. The end portions of theyoke 6 are connected with the frame 2 by helical springs 12 and similarsprings 13 connect the upper transversely extending portion of the yokepreferably nearthe brackets 7 with the frame, forming a yieldingconnection for holding the frame and the yoke in their proper relativeposi-.

tion. The lower portions of the sleeves 4 are supported and held by pins14;. mounted thereon to telescope with pipes 15 which convergeunder theframe of the machine and are secured at 16 to a reach or tongue 17extending rearwardly and designedto be connected to the rear axle of themachine.

I havenot shown in this application either the; rear axle or theconnection between the reach or tongue and said axle. An elevator 18 isforwardly anddownwardly inclined in said frame and'supported at itsupper part by ,a pivotal connection 18 upon suitable standards 18arranged upon the frame of the machine, its lower end being supported bycables 19 connected at their upper ends to crank arms 19 of a shaft 2Oby means of which the elevator is raised or lowered through the movementof' a crank 20 and gears in gear casing 20 as shown in detail in Figure4:.

The shaft 18 supporting the lower por-.

tion of the elevator is below andin perpendicular alignment with thewheel axles, and consequently the lower end of the elevator and thewheels are in the'saine relative positionwith respect to the groundline. If the wheels drop into a depression the elevator will drop also.and correspondingly the elevator will rise and follow the wheels over aknoll or elevation. There will, therefore, be no danger of the pick-upelevator digging into the soil-when it encounters a slight elevation andthe wheels are in a depression, nor will it pass over a bundle whichmight be lying in a low place in the ground. I

therefore regard this arrangement of the pick-up elevator and thesupporting wheels as an important feature of my invention.

21 is an evener bar attached by a clevis 22 to the tongue 17 andhavingdraft rods 23 extending forward to single trees at which are slidablymounted'on rods 25 attached to bars 26 which are supportedfrom theprojecting ends of the spindles 5. The single trees have a limitedsliding movement.

The means for supporting the forward end of the machine frame and theinclined Velevator through the yoke carried by the wheels 3, and thecable passing over sheaves on said yoke, said cable having its endsconnected to and supporting the forward portion of said machine frame,permit a relative tilting movement of said yoke and machine frame, andthereby permit the machi-neto accomrmodate itself to uneven surfacesover which the machine may be passing, and the vertical alignment of thelower shaft of the pick-up elevator and the axles of the supportingwheels insures corresponding vertical movements of the wheels and thelower end of the pick-up elevator, thereby preventing the lower end ofthe elevator from digging into the surface of the ground when the wheelsdrop into hollows, as may occur when-the lower end of the elevator is infront of the wheels, as shown in my former patent.

The details of the construction may be varied in many particularswithout departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention.

' 1. The combination, with a frame, and a forwardly and downwardlyinclined pick-up elevator mounted therein, of carrying and guidingwheels for said frame, a yoke having its end portions supported by saidwheels and straddling said frame and elevator, and means yieldinglyconnecting the sides of said frame with said yoke, and permittingrelative oscillation of said yoke and said machine frame and elevator.

2. The combination, with a frame and a forwardly and downwardly inclinedpick-up elevator mounted therein, of carrying and wardly and downwardlyinclined pick-up elevator mounted therein, of carrying wheels for saidframe, a yoke in the form substantially of an inverted U having its endportions supported by said wheels-and straddling said frame and elevatorbraces connecting the upper portion of said yoke with the axles of saidwheels, and cables attached to said frame and having running connectionswith the upper portions of said yoke.

4:. The combination, with a frame, of sup porting guide wheels havingupright sleeves and axles thereon, ayoke having its end portions mountedin said sleeves and straddling said frame, flexible means connected tosaid frame and having running connections with the upper portions ofsaid yoke, means con necting the lowerportions of said yoke with saidframe, and draft means connected with said supporting wheels.

5. The combination, with a frame, of a yoke in the form substantially ofan inverted U straddling said frame, supporting wheels having axles andbearings for the ends of said yoke. flexible means-connected to saidframe and having running connections with the upper portions of saidyoke, and draft means connected with said supporting wheels.

6. The combination, with a frame and a forwardly and downwardly inclinedelevator supported therein, of a yoke in the form substantially of aninverted U straddling said frame and elevator, supporting andguidingwheels having bearings for the ends of said yoke, a. flexible connectionbetween said yoke and said frame for allowing relative oscillation ofsaid wheels and yoke and said frame and elevator to accommodate themachine to the inequalities of'the ground.

7. The combination, witha frame and a forwardly and downwardly inclinedpick up elevator mounted therein, of carrying and guiding wheels forsaidfr'ame,means yieldingly supporting said frame upon said wheels andpermitting relative oscillation thereof, the lowerend of-said elevatorbeing in substantial vertical alignment with the axis of "said wheels.

8. The co'mb'n'ation, with a frame having carrying wheels, of aforwardly anddownwardly inclined elevator frame, an elevating 1 theirsupporting means.

apron inountediin said frame, a supporting frame and carrying wheelstherefor, of a shaft for said apron in the lower portion of pick-upelevator forwardly and downwardly said elevator frame, said shaft andsaid inclined in said frame, the pickup end of wheel spindles beingsubstantially in persaid elevator beingsupported independently 1pendicular alignment, whereby the lower of the axles of said wheels, andbeneath and end of said apron will follow the ground line substantiallyin perpendicular alignment with said wheels, and means for verticallytherewith. v

adjusting the lower end of said elevator 1 In witness whereof, I havehereunto set frame, independently of said wheels and my hand this 4: dayof November 1918.

9. In combination, with a supporting v HENRY HENDERSON

